#1: Elijah

Published by Ben Stahl on March 24, 2020March 24, 2020

I Kings 16:29 – 17:7

In I Kings 17 the Lord introduces us to the prophet Elijah. Elijah is a type of Christ* in the Old Testament in that he proclaimed the Word of God to the nation of Israel; called the people to repent of their sins and believe in the Lord; and through the power of God, carried out miracles.

Elijah comes onto the historical scene during a disastrous period in Israel’s history. Ahab is king and Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, is his wife. The kingdom of Israel has been split in two for many years. The northern kingdom is called Israel and the southern kingdom is called Judah. The kings of Israel have enjoyed one thing in common from ruler to ruler – they have all done “evil in the sight of the Lord.” But Ahab holds a special place in Israel’s royal history. He has done “more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him“(16:33).

God in His mercy does not leave Israel to its own wicked devices and worship of Baal. He sends Elijah His messenger to speak God’s Word. Through Elijah, the Lord told Ahab of His just judgment that would come upon Israel: There would be no rain in the land. A famine and subsequent desolation was coming upon Israel because of the sins of the nation led by wicked King Ahab and his wife. 

From the time of that message and throughout most of his ministry, Elijah had to hide from King Ahab. But through the famine and starvation that came upon many, the Lord provided for His servant and for His remnant in Israel. He sent ravens to bring bread and meat to Elijah every morning and evening and encamped him by a brook that he might have water.

During our “quarantine” period together, let us behold the wondrous works of the Lord our God through the lives of Elijah and Elisha His prophets. Our God who brings destruction and judgment upon the wicked world also shows great mercy by not destroying the world completely at this time. As in the days of Elijah, so in our day God has seen fit to give the world more time to see that He is God and to turn to Him in repentance and faith. As in the days of Elijah, so in our day God continues to care for His remnant and the sheep of His pasture. 

As the Lord sent ravens with food to nourish Elijah, so the Lord nourishes us with physical food and also the spiritual food of His Word that strengthens us for the trials and afflictions of life. Let us in the days that follow “remember the deeds of the Lord…ponder all [His] work , and meditate on [His] mighty deeds…“(Psalm 77:11a-12) so that we, like Elijah, might be well prepared to shine brightly the light of Christ through the afflictions of this present evil age. 

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*Jesus Christ carries out miracles of His own power for He is fully God and fully man, in two distinct natures, and one person, forever. Neither Elijah nor any other prophet could perform miracles of their own power for they were not God but were mere men. For this reason and others Elijah and other Old Testament figures are called “types” of Christ, as they are not Christ but point people to Jesus Christ.

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